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Just in case you needed the reminder. Just in case you’re feeling completely overwhelmed. Just in case you needed someone else to tell you to step back. Take a breather. Take a moment to gather your thoughts or say a prayer or sit in silence or go for a walk. Then come back to facing whatever you’re facing.
I’m hearing my mom’s words in my head today. When I would get overwhelmed she used to always tell me, Just take it one step at a time. Easier said than done, I always thought. But she’s right. When you look at your list of a million to-do’s, when you think of all that is expected of you, when you think too much about how overwhelmed you are, this can and will hinder you from being able to break it down and just start with one thing.
Start with just one thing. Check it off your list and go to the next thing. And then the next. Before you know it, you’re making progress. All the while, don’t forget the big picture. The really big picture. That’s going to mean something different for everyone. Whatever it means to you, don’t forget it. Helps keep everything in perspective.
I needed to remind myself of this today and I have a feeling some of you need this today too.
I cannot begin to express how grateful I am to you for posting this – I read it just at the very time I needed to. Thank you, thank you, so much. *breathes*
Project Life is also keeping me in mind of the bigger picture – this is my second year doing it and I just love the process!
In this hectic world, who couldn’t use a reminder? Thanks Becky! Happy Monday.
Your timing is impeccable! January is a very hectic time of year for me at work and I was starting to get very anxious driving into work today, thinking about everything I had to do. So this came at a perfect time. Thank you!
PS – I put together my PL over the weekend, and I feel LIBERATED. I no longer feel overwhelmed with all of the pictures I need to scrapbook. Hey – I don’t need to scrapbook all of them! Like you, I used to do one album for each vacation/trip. Who the heck has time for that? No wonder I’ve been feeling overwhelmed! PL is a wonderful idea. My camera and journaling cards are now in my purse for everyday use. I am amazed at the pictures I’m taking to capture my everyday life – things I never would have thought of capturing in the past. Pictures that my family and I will treasure for years to come.
Thanks again, Becky.
Wow, I read this at the perfect time in my morning. Thank you!!
I love your post today! Thank you for reminding me to breathe.
Thank you so much for posting this… I feel like my life is falling apart right now… and I need the reminder to just breathe… especially since part of the reason I feel like I’m falling apart right now is because I’m having anxiety attacks… which doesn’t make it easy to breathe… LOL… so thanks for this and sorry for babbling… I just feel like God asked you to make this post… just for me!
Steph
Thank you!
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Thanks for sharing. I have sent it to my friend who lost her Mom last week and is feeling so overwhelmed with everything and everyone right now. A very simple reminder!!!
Talk about perfect timing!!!!! First of all…it’s a monday..things seem to always be a little more hectic on a monday. Second, we are getting ready to remodel our kitchen and their are A LOT of decisions that need to be made and trying to stay within our budget…means lots of lists and headaches…but remembering the big picture and why we are really doing this…to have more family time together. Thanks again Becky!!!
What a great reminder! I am loving PL!! I bought last years version and it made it out of the box and that’s it! Loved the idea so I ordered the Turquoise one and I have it all put together and am picking up my first batch of photos this afternoon. I’ll sit with the kids tonight (hubby is sick) for family night and fill in a couple of blank journaling cards. Wow, already I am doing better than last year and I love it! I’ve always been a ‘wanna be scrapbooker’. I have all the ‘stuff’ and nothing to show for it, just too overwhelming. Loving this way to document our life and I really think I can do this. Thanks for a great product.
I need this more than you know…….thank you so much for posting this!
Just what I needed today – nearly made me cry right at work.
Thank you more than you can know.
Hi Becky:
I am very touched by your message today. I’ve been worried about some medical issues for the past month and “take it one step at a time” is just what I needed to hear. It also makes me feel better to know that we all struggle sometimes.
Thank you!
Boy, talk about the answer to a prayer. I’m dealing with recurrent cancer, a new job that pays half what the last one did, and the fact that just ONE of my chemo drugs that I have to have twice a month costs $17,400 for one dose! EEKS. I don’t have the best insurance so have to pay $1900 each time. Sigh. I believe that God is in my life. I believe the saying “God never gives us more than we can handle.” I believe that things CAN get better. I am going to start my new scrapbook today, “60 reasons to smile,” because I WILL be 60 in July. Becky Higgins, you are my guardian angel today! Thanks so much!
You were right…I did need this. Thanks so much!!!
Thank you for posting that! Sometimes I’m sitting here at work and I swear it feels like there’s an elephant on my chest. I just took a couple of deep breaths and I feel so much better. It’s so simple but true, you have to take everything one step at a time!
Have a great week and thank you!
Thank you. You’re a hero today (and lots of other days for me too.)
Perfect. Thank you for the message I needed to hear today.
You have no idea how timely your post is. Thank you, I am facing alot of changes/challenges and feeling VERY overwhelmed. Your reminder is going to be my mantra for awhile.
Holy cow did I ever need to hear this today, should have dropped by sooner! Thank you so very much! May the wisdom and kindness that you send into the world come back to ten fold.
Thank you so much for posting this today. I have had a couple really crummy situations pop up lately and your post was a great reminder to “Breathe”. I have a big interview in a couple hours so I am going to try to regroup before that… Thanks again for all your wonderful inspiration,.
I could use a picture like that with the word BREATHE on it to look at in my office. Sometimes I worrying about work and home and kids and money and the rest of life all at the same time…
Need that thanks! Between chores, therapies for the kids, planning weekly menus, trying to work on a Project life page..I was feeling just a tad overwhelmed. It even brought on a migraine! Thank you for the reminder.
Becky,
If I remember right after years of Creating Keepsakes Magazine you live in Arizona.Prayers go to you and everyone in Arizona.Thank you for the reminder also.
Michelle
Thank you. It seems that the blogs I read daily are speaking to me incredibly much today. I needed to hear this today, the same way I needed to hear about self-kindness which was written in another blog. Sending my husband off for international work for the next month, realizing how many things need doing, and how much I’m not liking where I am right now… BREATHE was what I needed. Thank you.
Thank you Becky … and thank you Michelle! I didn’t have time to look here this a.m., but I am so glad to have posted after Michelle. My son worked for Rep. Giffords in 2008 … everything about this tragedy is just so heartbreaking. Now it’s time to breathe …
Bet you did’t realize so many people needed to hear this. Thank you.
Gloria
Thanks! This is a great post. My fave tips for being less stressed is:
1-Cut out the things that don’t matter. (You know, choosing between good/better/best)
2-Realize your to do list will never get done because you will always add to it-cut yourself some slack
3-The hardest thing about completing a project, or a simple thing like the dishes, is to JUST START!
4-Do something fun!!
PS I LOVE your blog Becky!
What wise words you speak! I’ve been getting back into routine today, using “just start” as my two little words for 2011. One step at a time, one task at a time is all the faster our brains can work.
Thanks!! We all need to be reminded now and then just sit back & breathe.
Thanks for the reminder!!! And you gave me a little laugh (little jealous too); is that what it looks like outside at your house today? Lots of white around here with more coming
guess that’s what I get for living in Fargo.
Wow! I awoke this morning feeling the stress of all that I have on my plate. I find myself in the position of not saying “no” enough, and am now feeling completely over-committed. My immediate goal is to start prioritizing and taking a step back from some of my commitments. Thanks for your words today. They were just what I needed to hear!
thanks for that
I have been sick all weekend and into today and well with 3 little ones there and the hubby back to work, not resting today, so I will take a moment and just breathe. but on a brighter note My first very own PROJECT LIFE
so fun opening it up. so excited to see this album come together 
came today
Saw the message to breathe on this website today. Love the message.
http://www.aholyexperience.com/
Thanks for the reminder Becky! Your timing is wonderful and the rest of this afternoon is mine to relax. Thank you.
How in the world did you know? Thanks so much for the beautiful picture, and the simple reminder!
It’s like you were reading my mind! That was EXACTLY what I needed to hear today! Thank you so much Becky! You rock!
How did you know, Becky? Thanks so much for such a beautiful and helpful post.
Honestly at the end of the day, all that matters is that your loved ones are safe and loved. I’ve been reminded to this far too many times…people leave us without a moment’s notice. Take the time to breathe and tell everyone you care about that you love them – everyday. After that, have a friend or loved one chill you out…
Love it and it makes me feel calm and relaxed when I look at this simple picture and caption.
Can you make this into a print for us to copy and frame?
Thanks, Becky!!
I really, really need those words today.
Thank you…
I always think of Faith Hill’s song Just Breathe-the chorus!
Breathe…and listen. Thank you for listening today!
Thanks, Becky!
And by the way I am doing Project Life on a weekly basis–7 pictures a week, but not necessarily one a day. This one difference has eased the pressure on me for this project. Thank you so much for your wonderful concept!
Beth, this is what I did last year, and it really worked for me. In fact some weeks I did less, some weeks I did more if I was on vacation etc. It all balanced out perfectly well in the end (I don’t use the week cards, so I have 8 spaces to fill; that way you can’t tell when the weeks overlap). Good luck with PL!
Becky-thank you! I was reading Katy’s blog today about Ali’s “one litttle word” and I was just thinking mine should be “breathe.” Thank you for this incredibly timely post, and for validating what I need to remember. Being the mom of a tween has not been easy lately…I’m losing my patience when I shouldn’t and sometimes saying all the wrong things. I need to remember to walk away and breathe, then come back to what I’m facing, just like you said. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
wow.. perfect timing..
I also must say your timing is fantastic. Dealing with older parent issues and feeling SO overwhelmed -thanks for knowing what we all need in life -be it Project Life or a word of encouragement! Thanks for being you.
Becky,
A Christian author I love to read, Elisabeth Elliot, said something similar that has helped me thru many difficult and overwhelming times: “Just do the next thing.” Even if it’s just to get out of bed, or change a diaper, or whatever, just do what’s next, and don’t worry about everything else on your list until that one things done.
Thanks for the reminder to breathe. I’m going to take a deep breath, then go do the next thing.
Thank you….I needed this!
I am sitting here crying because I am overwhelmed at work, at home and in life and my husband is leaving for a work trip tomorrow! I needed these words right now. Thank you so much!
Thank you Becky, I was feeling overwhelmed this morning. I know I put too much pressure on myself to get everything done all at once, which is impossible. Taking my big breath now …..
I really needed to read this a few hours ago before I began helping my 5th grader with his science fair project that he & we were supposed to work on over the weekend!
Thank you so much Becky. I think that I’m going to print this out.
Thanks Becky! As with others, reading your post tonight is perfect timing. After working a 12 hour day today as a nurse, I walked to my vehicle only to find that it wouldn’t start!!! One hour and a tow truck later I am finally home. Remembering to just “breathe” when I start to get angry about it calms me down and I can carry on. I only wish I had my camera with me cause it would have been a way cooler POTD than the one of my breakfast this morning before work!!!!
thank you becky for the gentle reminder. i read in my favorite magazine Whole Living this morning a great quote that goes right along with your topic, it’s related to feeling fear in the face of difficult times: ” year by year, all is unclear, day by day we find our way.” just some food for thought. thx
To add to the “year by year, all is unclear, day by day we find our way” here’s a thought
“Inch by inch life’s a cinch…yard by yard, life is hard”
Thank you so much for this beautiful photo. It is perfect with the word breath. This may show up in my 365 day project when things get out of hand. Thanks again.
Becky, Your words brought tears to my eyes.
I live in Queensland, Australia where we are facing a huge flooding crisis. Two days ago a wall of water raged through the city where my brother lived and swept away a whole town as it passed through. My husband and I are so lucky, we are not in the path of this water and all our family is safe – however every minute we are swamped by the stories of people who are going through perhaps the most traumatic event of their lives and the images of people on cars and houses surrounded by water.
Your comment has reminded me to take a deep breath, to not feel guilty because I’m not in a flood zone and to be grateful for all that I have. Life is so precious and sadly we sometimes need to be reminded to take a moment from the craziness to just be.
Tomorrow, when I feel I can breathe again I will work out what I can do to help, what I can donate. I wouldn’t have been able to tear myself away from the tv and make rational decisions without your wise words.
Thank you so much!
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Love your inspiration!
Thank you so much for reminding us that we need to breath, I saw this at a time where I am stressing about everything and needed that reminder.
[...] What You Just Might Need to Hear. Lori in Pismo Beach, California said, I still have that image as my desktop on my laptop! So [...]
Thank you Becky for reminding me to slow down and be to kind to ourselves. I was feeling overwhelmed this morning with so many on my list. My mother always tell me 10 – 15 min on the project is a step to finishing the race. Everything is not forever so take time with the one that are importan … my children. Thank you for sharing….Rebecca
Always a great reminder! It’s about the Journey….and enjoying every moment of it…